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Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro in India on 14th February. Both the smartphones will go on sale on 22nd February via Flipkart. Redmi Note 5 is a successor to last years Bestseller Redmi Note 4 and gives a very 2018 feel with 18:9 FullView Display. The device will be available in Black, Gold and Rose Gold color variants. The device will be exclusively available on Flipkart, Mi.com & Mi Homes. Xiaomi has partnered with Reliance Jio to give Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro buyers an instant cashback of Rs 2,200 under ‘Jio #GiveMe5’ offer. The cashback will be credited in the form of vouchers and will be reflected in ‘My Vouchers’ tab in My Jio app, which can be redeemed on prepaid recharges.

The Redmi Note 5 will come in two variants; the 3GB/32GB base model is priced at Rs 9,999/- while the 4GB/64GB variant is priced at Rs 11,999/-. Similarly, Redmi Note 5 Pro also comes in 2 variants; the 4GB/64GB variant is priced at Rs 13,999/- while the 6GB/64GB variant is priced at Rs 16,999/-.

Redmi Note 5 Specifications

The Redmi Note 5 is a worthy successor to the Redmi Note 4. Xiaomi has ‘hit the nail on the head’ with the Note 5 by pricing it right with the new refreshed look. The Redmi Note 5 sports a 5.99-inch FHD+ 18:9 display with 2160 x 1080p resolution. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC with Adreno 506 GPU. The smartphone features a single 12MP rear camera with f/2.2 lens and an LED Flash and a 5MP front-facing camera for selfies with Beautify 3.0.

The smartphone is powered by a 4,000mAh battery which can deliver up to 14 hours of video playback, 27 hours of audio, and almost 8 hours of continuous gaming, claims the company. The device runs of MIUI 9 which is built on top of Android Nougat out of the box. Let’s have a quick look at the spec sheet:

Redmi Note 5 Pro packs in a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, Octa-core processor, 12MP + 5MP dual rear cameras and 5.99-inch FHD+ 18:9 Fullscreen Display with 2160 x 1080p resolution and 403ppi. The device will be available in 4GB and 6GB variants with 64GB of internal storage. The device will be available in Black, Gold, Rose Gold and Lake Blue color variant.

The highlight of the device is the dual rear cameras. The company claims that the 12MP f/2.2 lens coupled with 5MP f/2.0 secondary lens is tuned for enhanced low-light photography. Not to forget the 20MP front-facing camera with Beautify 4.0 and Face Recognition feature is one of the best in class. Let’s take a look at the spec sheet of the Note 5 Pro.

4GB and 6GB RAM variants with 64GB internal storage and a Hybrid SIM Slot which can be used to expand memory via micro SD card.

OS

Android Nougat 7.1 based MIUI 9

Camera

12MP + 5MP dual rear cameras with HDR and 20MP front-facing camera.

Battery

4000mAh Non-Removable battery

Connectivity

4G and 3G Dual SIM

Dimensions

158.6 x 75.44 x 8.05mm

Weight

181g

The device has similar aesthetics to the Redmi Note 4 with a metal frame and a solid built quality. The fingerprint sensor lies at the back. The Redmi Note 5 Pro mimics the iPhone X dual camera setup and also offers Face Unlock. The company promises a great battery life with 4000 mAh battery but does not offers fast charging. The devices definitely seem to be a bang for the buck.

The 4GB/64GB variant of Redmi Note 5 Pro is priced at Rs 13,999/- while the 6GB variant is priced at Rs 16,999 but the 6GB variant will not be available on the first sale. It is the first device in the world to run Snapdragon 636 processor, which also makes it the fastest Redmi Note ever with an AnTuTu Score of 109,692. The device also packs in an impressive Dual camera setup which offers features like Portrait mode Bokeh effects and also the EIS gives an added advantage for video recording.

Final verdict

The Redmi Note 5 is not much of an improvement except the 18:9 display but as the price is low, some might consider it as an upgrade to Redmi Note 4. However, the Note 5 Pro offers a lot for Rs 13,999. The fact that the device is first to run on Snapdragon 636 SoC and an impressive benchmark score add more value to the device. Also, the camera performance is great for the price. The company promises a great battery life but the unavailability of Fast charge disappointed us. Xiaomi is also providing a thin back case in the box which is good!!

That’s all from about the new Redmi Note 5’s. Tell us what you think in the comments below!!